Thematic Network Work-based Learning and Apprenticeships(NetWBL)

NetWBL is a network of 29 European national agencies, coordinated by the German National Agency at BIBB. It is funded by the European Commission, Directorate General Education and Culture (DG EAC).

Background

The contribution of work-based learning to supporting youth employment and economic competitiveness is widely recognised. Countries with strong and attractive Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems, and notably those with well-established apprenticeship systems, tend to perform better in terms of youth employment.

European Alliance for Apprenticeships

The European Alliance for Apprenticeships was launched in Leipzig on 2 July 2013. On 15 October 2013 the Council of the European Union adopted the Declaration on the European Alliance for Apprenticeships. As one of the key elements Member States declare that, where appropriate, they will " undertake VET system reforms, in cooperation with social partners and other relevant stakeholders, by introducing an apprenticeship pathway or improving existing schemes ,, in order to increase the number, quality and attractiveness of apprenticeships."

Objective

NetWBL aims to strengthen work-based learning (WBL) elements in existing Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems and Higher Education (HE) and to support apprenticeship in particular.The network addresses the key actors involved in WBL in each European country taking into account the different VET and Higher Education systems and legislative regulations. Furthermore, the network supports the European Alliance for Apprenticeships (EAfA).

Activities

NetWBL will make visible the results of Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) projects on work-based learning and will support VET reforms by providing an on-line toolbox for use by policy makers, social partners and VET providers. At the same time, it will identify gaps which could usefully be filled by new products developed by Erasmus+, the new EU programme in the fields of education, training, youth and sport.

The Network will support the implementation in practices of WBL by:

offering tools and good practices developed in LLP and in future Erasmus+

identifying the “transferable core” of project outcomes focusing on WBL

identifying gaps and needs for future projects

supporting the development of the communities of practices

facilitating the transfer of good practice

improving the quality of project implementation through monitoring and peer learning.

What is WBL?

The network's understanding of work based learning is broader than only apprenticeship: acquisition of knowledge and skills through carrying out and reflecting on tasks in a vocational context, either at the workplace (such as alternance training) or in a VET institution. It includes WBL in Higher Education and also developments to include WBL in school-based training.

Events

Regional Conference "Cooperation between Education and the World of work: Focus on Work based Learning"11-12 June 2015, Budapest

The Austrian, Hungarian and Romanian National Agencies are organizing a regional conference in Budapest with the aim to improve the exchange of information and knowledge across boundaries on work-based learning. The conference will also give opportunities for introducing European (LLP) and national projects. Over one and a half day, the event offers an opportunity to

learn from good practices from 3 countries

disseminate the results of successful projects and programmes

meet peers and share what works and what doesn’t

identify synergies and ways of working together to help in future work